Neck-yoke



No. 6l9,488. Patented Feb. [4, I899. W. JOHNSTON.

NECK YOKE.

(Application filed Apr. 16, 1898.) (No Model.)

NVENTOR.

flttorney THE NORRIS PETERS co PHOTo-Ln'na. wAsmNumN, o, c.

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM JOHNSTON, OF ELLSWORTH, WISCONSIN.

N ECK-YOKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,488, dated February 14, 1899.

Application filed April 16, 1898. Serial No. 677,883- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ellsworth, in the county of Pierce and State of WVisconsin', have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Neck-Yokes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in neck-yokes, and has for its object to provide means whereby the strain upon the center point of the neck-yoke is distributed, thereby enabling the neck-yoke to be made much lighter and more durable.

A further object of this invention is to provide a safety attachment to prevent the accidental disengagement of the yoke from the tongue in the event of the traces becoming unhitched.

The invention consists in the general construction and arrangement of the parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view of my improved neck-yoke, showing it in connection with the vehicle-tongue. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken at the line X X of Fig. 1.

A indicates the forward end of a vehicletongue, having mounted upon the upper side thereof the plate a. In the construction of this plate I prefer to form it integral with the end thimble B, so that it will extend backward overthe pole or tongue, where it may be fastened by means of the bolts b, and formed integral with the upper surface of this plate are two lugs c d, arranged in line with the axis of the pole and a short distance apart for a purpose to be hereinafter pointed out.

The neck-yoke properis indicated at C and has at its central point, suitably bolted upon its upper and lower surfaces, plates e and f. Through the center of these plates and neckyoke passes the bolt g, which is formed integral with the upper end of the ring h. The

upper end of the bolt g terminates with a threaded portion, with which the nut engages to secure the ring in position and at the same time permit it to turn freelyin its bearing. Upon the inner edge of the lower plate f, either secured thereto or formed integral therewith, is the segment m, having its ends engaging the extreme outer ends of the plate and the body of the circle arranged to be guided between the two lugs c and d, above described, and as this segment is formed in the outer curve around the bolt or pivot g as a center it will turn freely between the lugs as the yoke swings upon the pivot g, thus forming a guide and stop at every point in the partial circular movement of the neckyoke. Thus it will be seen from the foregoing that the neck-yoke may be placed in position by tipping one end higher than the other until the segment at passes in between the lugs, whence it is then swung to its horizontal position to be securely held from accidental disengagement.

The ring 71. is made of sufficient width and constructed of such size as to fit the bolts 6 freely, yet sufficiently snug to prevent the rocking motion, which might cause the segment to be lifted high enough to escape the holding-lugs. Thus it will be seen that should the traces of the harness become unhitched or accidentally disengaged the lugs in their engagement with the segment would prevent the disengagement of the neck-yoke, thereby avoiding the serious results usually following such accidents.

A further novel advantage to which attention is directed is the fact that the ends of the segment being connected with the plate at its outer ends a considerable distance from the pivot center and the body portion engaging the rear lug d as the animals draw back upon the neck-yoke acts as a brace to distribute the strain, thus enabling the yoke to be made much lighter and rendering it more durable. This addition also possesses merit from the fact that the dangers in descending steep grades with heavy loads are much lessened.

It will be obvious to those familiar with the art that some slight modifications may be made in the general construction an arrange-' ment of the parts without materially afiect ing the results, and I desire to have it understood that although I prefer the construction herein shown equivalent means may be adopted without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is The combination of a vehicle tongue, a plate a, mounted upon the upper side of said tongue, a thimble B, mounted upon the end of said tongue and adapted to receive said plate, said plate being provided with two lugs c, and (Z, arranged in line with the axis of the pole, the neck-yoke (1, plates 6, f, bolted upon the upper and lower surface of said neckyoke, a ring h, having the bolt 9, formed inte- 

